Wear-protection device for a protective guide or steering plate

ABSTRACT

A wear-protection device for a protective guide or steering plate with a steel plate, which has at least one front face subjected to a load and lateral surfaces, which are separated by edge areas. The lateral surface is covered, at least partially, by a lateral wear-protection device which has at least one wear-protection element on each lateral surface. On the front face subjected to a load by a front wear-protection device formed by at least one wear-protection element, the wear-protection element for the front face subjected to a load has a substantially angle-like cross section with a leg at the front and a lateral leg, and the edge area of the steel plate is surrounded at least partially by the wear-protection element. In this embodiment, the wear protection of the protective guide and steering plate against shocks in the edge area is improved, which extends the service life of the protective guide and steering plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a wear-protection device for a protective guide or steering plate with a steel plate, which has at least one front face subjected to a load and lateral surfaces, separated by edge areas, wherein the lateral surface is covered, at least partially, by a lateral wear-protection device which has at least one wear-protection element on each lateral surface and on a load-bearing front face by a front wear-protection device formed by at least one wear-protection element.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Protective guides or steering plates are used, for example, in track repair machinery in connection with railroad track construction, or are employed as mixing blades in mixing installations for concrete, cement, gravel, sand, stone chips, asphalt or other abrasively acting bulk materials.

In general, the protective guides or steering plates are subjected to great mechanical stresses and must be armored with a wear-protection device in order to assure as long as possible a service life. Hard-metal sheathing is normally used for wear protection.

Tamping picks are used, for example, in connection with track construction, and are used to compact ballast. A tamping pick or tamping tool is described, in particular for attachment to a vibrator, for example, in German Patent Publication DE G 94 04 703.0, which is provided over at least a portion of its tip with a one-piece hard-metal sheathing, which is substantially V-shaped in cross section.

German Patent Reference DE-OS 29 24 152 describes a wear bar with at least one tooth base for the bucket edge of an excavator, wherein each tooth base is formed as one piece from material of the wear bar and has devices for the direct fastening of a tooth. The bar is shaped in such a way that it extends at least around a front edge of a bucket. The wear bars have a complex deformed cross section and are thus very expensive to produce.

In accordance with the prior art, the front of the plate exposed to wear and its lateral surfaces are covered with individual hard-metal plates as wear protection of a protective guide or steering plates. A strip of steel is formed between the hard-metal sheathing of the load-bearing front face and the lateral plates. A groove, which is formed by the strips on both sides, is used for an easier fixation of the hard-metal plate on the loaded front side during soldering. It is disadvantageous for the strip between the hard-metal plates to be softer and thus show greater wear than the hard-metal plates. As a result, this increased wear leads to eroded spots, which create an attack surface for coarse materials, for example larger ballast stones. This can lead to breaking, or chipping-off, of the hard-metal plates in the area of joints or of the edges.

Some known constructions do without the previously described strip. Although the danger of erosion is less with such a wear-protection device, a great stress on the edges at the hard-metal transitions into the edge areas continues to exist. It is also disadvantageous if soldering is more elaborate because of the omission of the groove, because guidance is lacking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is one object of this invention to provide a wear-protection device of the type mentioned above but wherein the wear protection of the protective guide or the steering plate is improved and the service life is extended.

The object is achieved with a wear-protection element for a front face subjected to a load that has a substantially angle-like cross section with a leg at the front and a lateral leg. The edge area of the steel plate is surrounded at least partially by the wear-protection element. Thus, the transition area between the lateral wear-protection device and the front wear-protection device is no longer located in the area of or near the protective guide or the steering plate which is particularly exposed to shock. Displacement of the transition area leads to a clear reduction of erosions, so that coarse-grained particles, in particular, can no longer penetrate between the individual wear-protection elements. It is thus possible, with this step, to extend the service life of the protective guide and steering plates, which reduces maintenance costs. A further advantage occurs in connection with the mounting. Positioning during soldering is simplified by the angle-shaped cross section, in particular in connection with covering, or layering, of several sides of the protective guide and the steering plates with wear-protection elements.

If the leg at the front and the lateral leg of the wear-protection element is designed with equal angles, one advantage is that it is not necessary to pay attention to the orientation during assembly.

In one embodiment, the leg at the front and the lateral leg of the wear-protection element are of unequal lengths. This is advantageous with respect to placement on different steel plates, because steel plates of different widths can be covered with wear-protection elements of the same type without producing a different wear-protection element.

In a further embodiment, the wear-protection element has an outer rounded section between the leg at the front and the lateral leg and thus offers the advantage that larger particles, for example larger ballast stones, can slide past the front of the protective guide or steering plate, and the concussion and pressure forces can thus be reduced. A further advantage is derived if the outlay of force when changing the position of the protective guide or steering plate in the bulk material is reduced. For example, the entry of the protective guide and steering plate into the ballast is simplified by the rounded edges of the wear-protection elements.

In another embodiment, the front is subjected to a load of the steel plate can have a rounded area, and with respect to geometry the wear-protection element can have a corresponding inner rounded area. It is advantageous if the cross section of the material of the wear-protection elements can remain the same. Weakening of the material, which otherwise would lead to breaks, can be prevented by this geometry. The effective forces are more evenly distributed over the front face subjected to a load of the steel plate.

In one embodiment, the wear-protection element is designed as a quarter-circle profile. These profiles can be produced particularly cost-effectively.

In another embodiment, the lateral surface of the steel plate can have at least one beveled area in the edge area, wherein the angle between the lateral surface and the front face subjected to a load is greater than 90°, and the wear-protection element has an inner contour which corresponds to its geometry. Thus, an introduction of the protective guide and steering plate into the bulk material is simplified by this beveling.

If at least one of the legs of the wear-protection element has a bezel on the outside in the area of the free end of the leg, which extends transversely to the longitudinal extension of the leg, one advantage is that the transition between the wear-protection elements of the front face subjected to a load and the wear-protection elements of the lateral surfaces can be beveled, which can reduce the mechanical stresses in this area. Also, the edges of the wear-protection elements are better protected against shell-shaped erosion and cracks caused by shrinkage.

In one embodiment, the thickness of the material of the wear-protection element covering the front face subjected to a load is greater in comparison to that of the wear-protection element covering the lateral surface. This offers one advantage that, particularly at the locations where stress is increased, more material is available as wear protection, and the service life can thus be extended.

In one embodiment, the ratio of the number of wear-protection elements of the front wear-protection device and the number of wear-protection elements of the lateral wear-protection device can be at least 2:1. Thus the particularly highly stressed area of the protective guide or steering plates can be covered with several smaller wear-protection elements in comparison with the less greatly stressed lateral surface. If in spite of the previously described measures a wear-protection element should chip off, only lesser surfaces are effected because of this design, and functioning of the protective guide and steering plates can still be assured. Furthermore, smaller wear-protection elements are easier to exchange.

Protective guides or steering plates with a wear-protection device in accordance with the previously described characteristics can be employed in connection with railroad track construction in track repair machinery or as mixing blades and/or guide plates in mixing installations for concrete, cement, gravel, stone chips, sand, asphalt and/or other abrasively acting bulk materials. A long service life is particularly important for these applications, which can be assured with the previously described characteristics of the wear-protection device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This invention is described in view of an exemplary embodiments represented in the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a protective guide or steering plate with a wear-protection device, in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a protective guide or steering plate with a wear-protection device, in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a protective guide or steering plate with a wear-protection device, according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b each shows a protective guide or steering plate in a perspective plan view;

FIG. 4 c shows the protective guide or steering plate in a lateral view;

FIG. 4 d shows the protective guide or steering plate in a front view;

FIG. 5 a shows a wear-protection element in a lateral view;

FIG. 5 b shows a wear-protection element in a front view;

FIG. 6 a shows a variation of the wear-protection element in a front view; and

FIG. 6 b shows another variation of the wear-protection element in a front view.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A protective guide or steering plate 1 with a wear-protection device 20, 30, 40 in accordance with the prior art, such as is used for distributing ballast in railroad track construction in track repair machinery, for example, is shown in FIG. 1.

In the example shown, the protective guide or steering plate 1 comprises a steel plate 10 which, as shown in FIG. 1, is angled at the end. The steel plate 10 has at least one front face 12 subjected to a load and adjoining it lateral surfaces 11, each separated by an edge area 12.3. The lateral surfaces 11 are each covered, at least in part, by a one-piece lateral wear-protection device 20, and the front face 12 subjected to a load by a one-piece front wear-protection device 30. Also, the steel plate 10 has a further front face 13, which is at least partially covered by an edge wear-protection device 40.

A strip 12.2 is formed respectively between the front wear-protection device 30, embodied as a hard-metal sheathing, of the front face 12 subjected to a load and the lateral wear-protection device 20 of the lateral surface 11. A groove 12.1 is provided for easier fixation of the front wear-protection device 30 on the front face 12 which is subjected to a load during soldering. It is disadvantageous here if, as already described, the strip between the wear-protection devices 20, 30 is softer, and therefore can wear more easily than the wear-protection elements 20, 30.

The protective guide and steering plate 1 shown in FIG. 2 also corresponds to the prior art. In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, there is a substantially flat steel plate 10, which has lateral surfaces 11, front faces 13 and at least one front face 12 subjected to a load. In the example shown, a head 14 is formed in one piece on the steel plate 10 and has a pivot axis 15, around which the steel plate 10 can be pivoted.

The lateral faces 11 of the steel plate 10 are covered at least in part with a lateral wear-protection device 20 which, in the represented example, comprises a plurality of segmented wear-protection elements 21. The front face 12 is subjected to a load and is covered by a front wear-protection device 30, which is segmented and comprises a plurality of wear-protection elements 31. As shown in FIG. 2, the transition 22 between the wear-protection elements 21, 31 is in the area of the highest mechanical stress. At least in the connecting area with the front face 12 subjected to a load, the front face 13 of the steel plate 10 has an edge wear-protection device 40, which comprises a wear-protection element 41 which is beveled on both sides.

The head 14 of the pivotable protective guide and steering plate 1 has a radial wear-protection device 50, which encloses the head 14 at least partially. The front face of the head 14 is covered with an axial wear-protection device 60, which comprises a plurality of partial segments.

FIG. 3 shows a pivotable protective guide and steering plate 1 in one embodiment in accordance with this invention. In contrast to the protective guide and steering plate 1 shown in FIG. 1, this embodiment has wear-protection elements 31 for the front face 12 subjected to a load, which have a substantially angle-like cross section with a front leg 31.1 and a lateral leg 31.2 and enclose the edge area 12.3 of the steel plate 10, at least partially. The wear-protection elements 31 have an outer rounded area 31.5 between the front leg 31.1 and the lateral leg 31.2.

A non-represented embodiment has a beveled area in the form of a bezel in place of the outer rounded area 31.5.

The ratio of the number of wear-protection elements 31 of the front wear-protection device 30 and the number of wear-protection elements 21 of the lateral wear-protection device 20 is at least 2:1.

The front face 13 of the steel plate 10 also has an edge wear-protection device 40 in the connecting area with the front face 12 subjected to a load, which comprises a wear-protection element 41 that is beveled on both sides. In addition, angle wear-protection elements 42 are provided, which enclose the lateral faces 11 at least partially.

FIGS. 4 a to 4 d show a protective guide and steering plate with a steel plate 10 partially and in different views.

The steel plate 10 has lateral surfaces 11, each covered with a lateral wear-protection device 20. The front wear-protection device 30 is formed from a plurality of angle-shaped wear-protection elements 31, with front legs 31.1 and lateral legs 31.2 that enclose the edge area 21.3 between the lateral surfaces 11 and the front face 12 subjected to a load of the steel plate. In the represented example, the front leg 31.1 and the lateral leg 31.2 of the wear-protection elements 31 have uneven lengths. The front plate 12 is subjected to a load of the steel plate 10 and has a rounded area 12.5 in the respective edge area 12.3. The wear-protection element 31 has an inner rounded area 31.6 corresponding to this geometry, wherein the wear-protection elements 31 have an exterior rounded area 31.5 between the front leg 31.1 and the lateral leg 31.2. The thickness of the material of the two legs 31.1, 31.2 is identical.

In the represented example, the thickness of the material of the wear-protection elements 31 covering the front face 12 subjected to a load is greater in comparison to that of the wear-protection element 21 covering the lateral surface 11. In the area of the free ends of the legs 31.1, 31.2, the legs 31.1, 31.2 of the wear-protection element 31 have an exterior bezel 31.3, 31.4 extending transversely to the longitudinal extension of the leg. The transition between the lateral wear-protection device 20 and the front wear-protection device 30 is beveled by the bezel 31.4.

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b show a wear-protection element 31 in an enlarged representation. As shown in FIG. 5 b, the leg 31.1, 31.2 of the wear-protection element 31 has in the area of the free ends of the legs 31.1, 31.2 an exterior bezel 31.3, 31.4 extending transversely to the longitudinal extension of the leg which, in the represented example, is beveled by about 30° with respect to the surface of the legs 31.1, 31.2. Also shown in FIG. 5 b are the outer and inner rounded areas 31.5, 31.6.

FIG. 6 a schematically shows an embodiment of a wear-protection element 31. The lateral surface 11 of the steel plate 10 has at least one bevel 12.4 in the edge area, wherein an angle between the lateral surface 11 and the front face 12 subjected to a load is greater than 90°. The wear-protection element 31 is appropriately matched with respect to the geometry to the corresponding inner contour, and can enclose the front face 12 with the bevel 12.4 in one piece or, as represented, in two pieces. The bevel 12.4 can be embodied one-sided, assymetrical at both sides or, as in the example, symmetrical on both sides.

Another embodiment of a wear-protection element 31, which is designed as a quarter-circle profile, is represented in FIG. 6 b. The steel plate 10 has a rounded area 12.5 corresponding to the inner rounded area 31.6.

Customarily, the wear-protection elements 21 and wear-protection elements 31 are made of a hard metal and have been soldered on the steel plate 10. In certain applications, normal soldered connections or glued connections are also conceivable.

In an embodiment not represented here, the wear-protection elements 31 of the front wear-protection device 30 can also have an essentially mushroom-shaped cross section. Thus, a groove has been cut into the front face 12 subjected to a load of the steel plate 10 of the protective guide and steering plates 1, into which the wear-protection element 31 is welded.

The previously described protective guide and steering plates 1 are employed, for example, in connection with railroad track construction in track repair machinery or as mixing blades and/or guide plates in mixing installations for concrete, cement, gravel, stone chips, sand, asphalt and/or other abrasively acting bulk materials.

Wear protection of the protective guide and steering plate 1 against shocks in the edge area 12.3 of the loaded front face 12 of the steel plate 10 can be improved and thus extend the service life of the protective guide and steering plate 1, so that maintenance intervals are increased and costs are reduced.

German Patent Reference 10 2005 026 924.9, the priority document corresponding to this invention, and its teachings are incorporated, by reference, into this specification. 

1. A wear-protection device for a protective guide or steering plate (1) with a steel plate (10) having at least one front face (12) subjected to a load and lateral surfaces (11) which are separated by edge areas (12.3), wherein each of the lateral surfaces (11) is at least partially covered by a lateral wear-protection device (20) which has at least one wear-protection element (21) on each lateral surface (11), and on a front face (12) subjected to a load by a front wear-protection device (30) formed by at least one second wear-protection element (31), the wear-protection device comprising: the second wear-protection element (31) for the front face (12) subjected to a load having a substantially angled cross section with a leg (31.1) at a front and a lateral leg (31.2), and an edge area (12.3) of the steel plate (10) surrounded at least partially by the second wear-protection element (31).
 2. The wear-protection device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the leg (31.1) at the front and the lateral leg (31.2) of the second wear-protection element (31) are designed with equal angles.
 3. The wear-protection device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the leg (31.1) at the front and the lateral leg (31.2) of the second wear-protection element (31) are of unequal lengths.
 4. The wear-protection device in accordance with claim 3, wherein the wear-protection element (31) has an outer rounded section (31.5) between the leg (31.1) at the front and the lateral leg (31.2).
 5. The wear-protection device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the front face (12) subjected to the load of the steel plate (10) has a rounded area (12.5), and the second wear-protection element (31) has a corresponding inner rounded area (31.6).
 6. The wear-protection device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the second wear-protection element (31) has a quarter-circle profile.
 7. The wear-protection device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the lateral surface (11) of the steel plate (10) has at least one beveled area (12.4) in the edge area, wherein an angle between the lateral surface (11) and the front face (12) subjected to the load is greater than 90°, and the wear-protection element (31) has a geometrically corresponding inner contour.
 8. The wear-protection device in accordance with claim 7, wherein at least one of the legs (31.1, 31.2) of the second wear-protection element (31) has a bezel (31.3, 31.4) on an outside near a free end of the leg (31.1, 31.2) which extends transversely to a longitudinal extension of the leg.
 9. The wear-protection device in accordance with claim 8, wherein a thickness of material of the second wear-protection element (31) covering the front face (12) subjected to the load is greater relative to a second thickness of the wear-protection element (21) covering the lateral surface (11).
 10. The wear-protection device in accordance with claim 9, wherein a ratio of a number of the wear-protection elements (31) of the front wear-protection device (30) and a second number of the wear-protection elements (21) of the lateral wear-protection device (11) is at least 2:1.
 11. The wear-protection device in accordance with claim 10, wherein the protective guide or steering plate (1) is employed in connection with at least one of a railroad track construction in track repair machinery, mixing blades, guide plates in mixing installations for concrete, cement, gravel, stone chips, sand, asphalt and an other abrasively acting bulk material.
 12. The wear-protection device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the wear-protection element (31) has an outer rounded section (31.5) between the leg (31.1) at the front and the lateral leg (31.2).
 13. The wear-protection device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the front face (12) subjected to the load of the steel plate (10) has a rounded area (12.5), and the second wear-protection element (31) has a corresponding inner rounded area (31.6).
 14. The wear-protection device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second wear-protection element (31) has a quarter-circle profile.
 15. The wear-protection device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the lateral surface (11) of the steel plate (10) has at least one beveled area (12.4) in the edge area, wherein an angle between the lateral surface (11) and the front face (12) subjected to the load is greater than 90°, and the wear-protection element (31) has a geometrically corresponding inner contour.
 16. The wear-protection device in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the legs (31.1, 31.2) of the second wear-protection element (31) has a bezel (31.3, 31.4) on an outside near a free end of the leg (31.1, 31.2) which extends transversely to a longitudinal extension of the leg.
 17. The wear-protection device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a thickness of material of the second wear-protection element (31) covering the front face (12) subjected to the load is greater relative to a second thickness of the wear-protection element (21) covering the lateral surface (11).
 18. The wear-protection device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a ratio of a number of the wear-protection elements (31) of the front wear-protection device (30) and a second number of the wear-protection elements (21) of the lateral wear-protection device (11) is at least 2:1.
 19. The wear-protection device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the protective guide or steering plate (1) is employed in connection with at least one of a railroad track construction in track repair machinery, mixing blades, guide plates in mixing installations for concrete, cement, gravel, stone chips, sand, asphalt and an other abrasively acting bulk material. 